Article stacker



J. DREGER ARTICLE STACKER Feb. 8, 1927.

Filed April l9, 1926 j 3 Shets-Sheet 1 1,617,149- J. DREGER ARTICLESTACKER Fb. s, 1927.

Filed April 19. 1926 3 sheet -sheet 5 v Nhtmwo 3 rye?" div/W49 Iindicated by line H oft-Fig. 3.

Patented Feb, 8,1927.

5 1 n mm stares ne a (retire v Jones DREGiER, or sU'rTnR oonn'ry,CALTtlEORNIA;

ARTICLE STACKER.

Application filed April 19, 1,926. ScriaLNo. 103,022.

The invention relates toimprovements. in mechanisms for'stackingarticles, one upon another, and the present disclosure is in tendedprimarily for the stacking of'trays ,containing fruit to be moved intoadrier or dehydrater, the trays being stacked upon a car, in the presentinstance, which car is then run into the drying or dehydrating device. ia f One object of the invention is to provide'a rather simple andinexpensive, yet anefficient and reliable machine which will take thefilled trays from a feeder by which they are aclvancecl,and willstacksaid trays one upon anotherin orderly fashion.

In carrying outthe aboveend, a further aim is to provide carrying meansfor each tray :and means for operating Said carrying means in anovelmanner causing it, totake a tray from the feeder and'move it in thedesired manner to place it upon the stack, after which the carryingmeans is returned to its initial position, in readiness to receiveanother tray. 7 Yet another aim isto provide stacking means which,embodies a main carrier having horizontal trackage which straddles thefeeder and the tray thereon,; together with auxiliary carriagesmountedfor movement along said trackage and having tray-lifting means, andnovelmechanism for moving'the master carriage and the auxiliarycarriages in the required manner to lift-and stack the trays.

" Vith the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides inthe-novel s'uh'-.

matter hereinafter wClGSCllbQtl and ce hlaimed, the description beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawings; r

Figure 1 isa side elevation partly broken away and in section, showing astacker constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation looking from the right toward the left ofthe machine as viewed in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevationlofthe master carriage and one-oftheauxiliary carriages carried thereby f i T Figure 4 is a detailjihorizontal' section as Fi 'ure '5 is a detail or f 'a mentar endelcvation'showing more particularly oneof theauxiliarycarriages and itstray lifter;

Figure 6 IS a view similar toF g. -5, but disclosingthe. manner luwhichtlie tray 1s deposited upon lthestack and'tlie lifter then i released. IY The constructionherein disclosed, may be considered,asipreferred, andwhile this construction will be hereinafter ratherjspecificallydescribed, it is to be understood at the outset, that within the scopeof the invention as claimed, various modifications may be made. 7 .7 i

The numeral 'Z'design'ates ana-ppropriate .base, having an appropriate:supporting structure 8'for an elevated runway which preferably consistsof a pair of tracks 9, said tracks and the upper portion 8" of thesupportingstructure 8, projecting horizontally beyond the main portionofsaid struc- -ture,as shown in Fig. 1. 'Mounte'd for move.-

ment along the tracks 9,.is a'feed'e-r 10-,for advancing each tray T,tobe stacked, said feeder being of less width than the tray, so astoleaveendportions'of the latter projecting in opposite directions fromsaid feeder, as

shown most clearly in Fig. 2.

Vertical tracks 11 rise from the-base and are laterally spaced withrespect to thefree ends ofthe tracks 9. Each of these tracks preferablycomprises a standard 12 formed of wood and having a metal strap 13 alongone side, together with a'metal-lined rail 14 parallel with the standardand secured in the construction shown, includes a horizontal bar 17whose ends are slidably'receiv'ed be tween the rail "Hand the metalstrap '13. A centralstrut 18 and two downwardly diverging-bars 19arep'rovided'neareach end of the-bar 17 and are suitablyseouiredtothisbar, the lower end of each strut 18 being provided with a late-rallyprojecting pin or bolt 20 which is slidably' received-between theadjacentimembers 13 and 14 "of the track 11. Secured to the lower ends'ofthe members 18 and 19,,at each side of the machine, is an' upperhorizontal track 21 and a lower horizontal track 22, the ends of the twotracks being preferablyconnected as at 23. Two auxiliary carriages 241are provided, one

at each side of the machine, saidcarria-nes having upperrollers25-'engaging the tracks 2l'andlower rollers26 winch travel upon the Ishown) tracks 22. Each of these auxiliary carriages, preferably consistsof a vertically positioned, horizontally elongated plate 27 and a tray-'lifting plate 28 pivoted at 29 to the lower edge of said plate 27, theplate 28 being downwardly swingable tofa projected operative position sothat it may engage the lower side of a laterally projecting end of atray which has been advanced by the feeder 10, the downward swinging ofthe plate 28 being of course limited by any desired means (not WVhen themaster carriage 16 is raised, the two plates 28 lift the tray T from thecarriage or feeder 10 by which ithas been advanced Then, at the propertime, the two auxiliary carriages 24 and the tray supported thereby, aremoved toward the opposite ends of the tracks 2122, from the position inwhich said carriages are disclosed in Fig. 1. Then, the master carriageis lowcred and the tray will be placed upon-the top of a stack S, beingformed on one end of a car@ which may be run in between the 10W- 7 erends of the tracks 11, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1. The mastercarriage and the auxiliary carriages are then returned to their initialpositions, in readiness to engage the next tray advanced by the feeder10.

Novel means are shown for shifting the carriages 24 along the tracks21-22. 30 designates a rock shaft above the bar 17 and mounted inappropriate bearings 31 rising from said bar, the ends of said rockshaft 30, being provided with oppositely projecting arms 32 and 33 whichare connected byfiexible lines 34 and 35 respectively, with thecarriages 24, said lines being trained around appropriate guides 36 atthe ends'of the trackage 2122. By -this relation of parts, when theshaft 30 and its arms stand as shown in Fig. 1, the carriages 24 are atone end of the trackage 2122, in readiness to engage their tray lifters28, with the laterally projecting ends of the tray advanced by thefeeder 10, as soon as the master carrier 16 is lifted. It will be seenhowever that when the shaft 30 i is turned in the proper direction, thearms 3233 will operate the lines to shift ered.

the carriages 24 to the opposite end of the aforesaid trackage 21--22.Provision is made for so turning the shaft 30, when the master carriageand connected part/shave been elevated to lift a tray, and by suchturning of the rock shaft, the'tray is then positioned over the stack Sin readiness to be deposited upon the latter when the master Thisprovision consistsof trips 37 mounted at the upper ends of the tracks11, each trip preferably consisting of upper and lower links 38 and 39'connected by a vertical link 40 to which they are pivoted, said links 38and 39 being pivoted to the tracks. Coiled springs 41 or the equivalent,are provided to normally lower the trips 37 to the position disclosed inFig. 1 and these trips are disposed in the upward paths of the arms 32.Thus, when the master carriage 16 and associated parts are raised to therequired extent,

the arms 32 strike the trips 37, said trips then serving to rock saidarms and the shaft 30, so as to shift the auxiliary carriages 24 andmove the tray supported thereby to a position over the stack S. Anyshock wvhich might otherwise occur upon engagement'oi" the arms 82 withthe trips 37, is cushioned by the springs 41 which permit slight upwardyielding of the linkage 38-3940.

Any desired means could of course be employed for raising and loweringthe master carriage 16. In the present showing, flexible line sconsisting of chains 42 and cables 42 are connected with said carriageat their lower ends and have their upper ends en'- gaged withsprockets'43 on a transverse shaft 44 which is suitably mounted at theupper ends of the tracks 11. forthis shaft includes an appropriateclutch '45 controllable in any desired manner, for instance, by a handlever 46 adjacent the feeder 10, a cable47 being shown as a portion ofthe operating connections between said lever and clutch. The drivingmember of the clutch 45, in the present showing, is connected by a chain48 with a sprocket 49 driven by pulleys and a belt 50 from an elec tricmotor 51, the latter being mounted on an appropriate frame structure 52.

Shaft 44 is equipped with an appropriate brake 53 by means of which thelowering of the master carriage 16 and associated parts, may becontrolled. This brake, in the present disclosure is connected by cables54 and 54 and bell cranks 53"" with a foot treadle 55, the latter beingnear the lever 46, sothat the operator may at will, throw in the clutch45 to raise the carrier 16 or may throw said The driving means clutchout and apply the brake to control the lowering of said carrier and thetray which gar-7,149

tracks 11 and connected with the latter by bars 57, said memberssupporting theinotor frame 52 and an additionally rearwardly projectingframe 58 which is braced as at 59, to the upper ends of the'tracks 11. fThis frame -58 carries a short horizontal track 60 engaged by a roller61 fromjwhicha rod 62 depends, the lower end of said rod having a hook63 to hook under the platformof the car C, thus holding this car againstpossible rearward tilting while a stack S isbeing formed on one end ofsaid car. After completion of this stack, the car is rearwardly movedand another stack may then be formed on its other end. The rod 62 ofcourse may move rearwardly when the car C is moved in this direction,due to the roller 61 and the track60.-

T V l/Vhile the operation of the machine as a whole would properly beunderstood from the foregoing, it may be summarized as follows :Thetrays to be stacked are advanced by the feeder 10 along the trackage 99,the

' carriers 16 and 24 being then in about the positions disclosed inFig.1. l/Vhen a tray iscompletely advanced, the operator actuates thelever 46, throwing the clutch 45 into play and causing the drums 43 towind the cables 42, said cables then raising the master carrier 16 andthe auxiliary carriers' 24'and causing the tray lifters 28 of the latterto engage under'the projecting endsof the tray which has been advancedby the feeder. The carriers now continue in their upward movement andelevate the tray, until the 'ar1n's 32 engage the trips 37 and the shaftis turned to effect shifting of the, carriers 24 to the opposite end ofthe trac'kage from the position disclosed in'Fig. 1. When this shiftinghas taken place,the-o.perator moves the lever 46 to throw the clutch outof play, thereby allowing the carrier 16 and associated parts todescend, the descent be ing controlled by the brake 53 actuatedbythe'foot treadle 55. Assuming that the tray now being lowered bythe'device is the first tray advanced by the feeder 10, this tray willbe deposited upon'the car C and when the carrier 16 reaches the limit ofits down: ward movement, the shaft 30 is turned to reposition theauxiliary carriers 24 at their, starting points. Thus, the next trayadvanced by the feeder 10 may be raised, laterally shifted and loweredin the same manner and when, upon this lowering, the tray lifters 28engage the tray previously placed upon the car C, they tilt upwardly aswill be clear from Fig. 6, thus releasing the tray and allowing it torest in orderly. fashion upon-the previously positioned tray. 7

The machine is rather'simple and inexpensive, yet is eficient, rapid andin every way desirable, and on account of advantages existing fordetails of construction herein dis-. closed, such details may well befollowed.

I lowever, within the scope oftheinvention as claimed,"-modi1'icationsmay be made;

I claim 1. Article stacking means comprising 'a' rying means, meanswhereby said lifting V means may be shifted longitudinally on-saidcarrying means and means for raising and lowering said carrying means.

2.fArticle-stacking means comprising an elevated runway, a "feedermovable alongthe same to advance each article to a predetermined pointspaced from the stacking point, said feeder being ofless width than thearticle to leav 'ortions of the latter projecting in opposit directionsfrom the feeder, ver tical tracks "disposed laterally of said runway,a'master carriage mounted'formove ment along said vertical trac'ksandembodying laterally spaccd horizontal tracks. to straddle sa'idrunway,said "feeder and the feeder-advanced article, auxiliary carriagesmounted for movement along said horizontal tracks respectively, saidauxiliary carriages being laterally spacedto straddle the runway, the,feeder and the feeder-advanced article,- article lifters mountedon saidauxiliary carriages to engage the projecting portions of-the feede'radvanced article, means for raising and lowering'said master carriage,and means for movingsaid' auxiliary carriages along saidhorizont'a'ltracks.

3. Article-stackingmeans compri i g: an elevated runway', a feeder"movable along the same to advancee'ach article to a'predetermined;point spaced from thestaclriiig point, said feeder being of less widththan the. article to leave portions "ofthe'latter projeoting oppositedirections -f rom the feeder, vertical tracks disposed laterally of saidrunway, a'master carriage mounted for movement along said verticaltracks and em- 7 bodying laterally spacedhorizontal tracks 7 tostradd-lesaid runway, said feeder and the feeder-advancedarticle,auxiliary carriages mounted for movement along said horizontal tracksrespectively, said auxiliary carriages being laterally spaced tostraddle the run way, the feeder and the feeder-advanced article,article lifters mounted on said auxiliary carriages to engage theprojecting portions of the feeder-advanced article, means for-raisingand lowering said master carriage, means on saidmaster carriagecon-'nected with said auxiliary carriages for shifting the latter along saidhorizontal tracks from article-receiving portionv to; article-depositingposition, and meansfor automatically actuating said shifting means. uponascent of said master carriage.

4.- Articlestacking means comprising an elevated runway, a feedermovable along the same to advance each article to a predetermined pointspaced from the stacking point,

said feeder being of less width than the article to leave portions ofthe latter projecting in opposite directions from the feeder, verticaltracks disposed laterally of said runway, a master carriage mounted formovement along said vertical tracks and embodying laterally spacedhorizontal tracks to straddle said runway, said feeder and thefeeder-advanced article, auxiliary carriages mounted for movement alongsaid horizontal tracks respectively, said auxiliary carriages beinglaterally spaced to straddle the runway, the feeder and thefeeder-advanced article, article lifters mounted on saidauxilarticle-depositing position upon ascent of the master carriage.

5. A structure as specified in claim 4; said shaft turning meanscomprising a trip on one of said vertical tracks to engage an arm ofsaid rock shaft.

6. In an article stacker, a master carrier and means mounting it forvertical movement, auxiliary carriers and means mounting them on saidmaster carrier, for horizontal movement, means for raising and loweringsaid master carrier, and means for automatically shifting said auxiliarycar-v riers horizontally upon ascent of the master carrier.

7. In an article stacker, a master carrier and means mounting it forvertical movement, auxiliary carriers and means mounting them on saidmaster carrier for horizontal movement, means for raising and loweringsaid master carrier, a rock shaft on said master carrier having lateralarms,

flexible line-s connecting said arms with said 'ingthem on said mastercarrier for horizontal movement, means for raising and loweringsaidmaster carrier, a rock shaft on said master carrier having lateral arms,flexible lines connecting said arms with said auxiliary carriers forshifting the latter when the shaft is turned, and a trip in the upwardpath of the master carrier adapted to engage one of said arms to turnthe shaft when-the master carrier has ascended to a predeterminedextent. a s

9. In an article stacker, a carrier-shifting trip comprising upperandlower links pivoted to and projectinglaterally from a support, a.vertical link pivoted to and connecting said upper and lower links;'andspring means connected to one of said links for' holding said linksyieldably in a lowered position. r V

10. In a means for stacking articles on a car, a horizontal track abovethe car, and means depending from and movable along said track forengagement withthe car to hold the latter against tilting while-beingloaded.

11. Ina means for stacking car, a horizontal track above the car, a shoemovable along said track, a rod depending from said shoe, and a hook onthe lower end of said rod for engagement with the car to holdthe latteragainst tilting while it is being loaded. a v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atlixed my signature. I

I JULIUS DREGER.

articles on a

